Feb 8, 2010

St. Jude Medical Awarded U.S. Patent For Neurostimulation Therapy For Depression

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ) announced it has been awarded a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office conducive to treating depression using neurostimulation psychotherapy in an arena of the intellectual known as Brodmann Area 25.

Brodmann Close 25 is a organization within the subcollosal gyrus region of the brain. It is the focus of the St. Jude Medical BROADEN(TM) (BROdmann Neighbourhood 25 DEep brain Neuromodulation) muse about, which is evaluating whether deep sense stimulation (DBS) cure can workers people who suffer from major depressive disorder, a dire form of impression. This study is being conducted under a U.S. Scoff and Dose Administration (FDA) Investigational Device Exemption (IDE), which was announced in February 2008.

“This patent is a cornerstone in developing our passage to lost brain stimulation fitted depression, which is the leading belief of disability in the U.S. come up to b become illnesses,” said Chris Chavez, president of St. Jude Medical’s ANS Division. “The BROADEN study provides hope respecting a sober new psychotherapy to the millions of patients still seeking treatment for their critical concavity.”

On April 4, St. Jude Medical enrolled the first unfailing, a woman from Chicago, in the BROADEN study. The patient will be implanted with the Libra(R) Deep Thought Stimulation Methodology, an investigational device, at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Condition Sanatorium in Chicago.

“There is a tremendous need for inquire into in the area of major depressive disorder, distinctively among those who have weak other treatment options,” said Anthony D’Agostino, M.D., medical director of Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital and the prima donna investigator at the writing-room site. “We hope that our participation in the study inclination combine to the centre of research previously conducted for patients hardship from dent and, if possible, shed some clarification on what type of patient is most likely to benefit.”

The BROADEN inspect is a controlled, multi-install, blinded, clinical enquiry of deeply brain stimulation in the U.S. It will build upon the pioneering depression work conducted at the University of Toronto by a research team led by neurologist Helen S. Mayberg, M.D. (now with Emory University School of Medicine) and neurosurgeon Andres Lozano, M.D.

The Libra Deep Brain Stimulation System, which is being evaluated in this sanctum sanctorum, is designed to deliver mild pulses of common from a device implanted next-door the collarbone and connected to small electrical leads placed at specific targets in the brain.

In the U.S., more than 21 million adults suffer from some kind of depressive disorder, according to the National Alliance of Mental Health. Since barely approximately 80 percent can be effectively treated with currently available therapies, approaching 4 million matured Americans spend with despair that does not respond to medications, psychotherapy or electroconvulsive therapy. The World Health Organization estimates that depression affects thither 121 million people worldwide.

For more news apropos this study, call toll-free 866-787-4332 or visit http://www.BROADENstudy.com.